Rail

MBTA commuter rail system at 80% capacity

BOSTON — Keolis GM Gerald Francis said the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) commuter rail system is running at 80% capacity and should be at 92% capacity by in about two weeks, with the goal still to be fully operational by the end of March, reported CBS Boston.

The MBTA fined Keolis more than $434,000 after nearly two-third of trains were late or canceled during a period of extreme snow and cold for the region in February. Last week, Keolis apologized to customers in a full-page ad in The Boston Globe. For the full story, click here.

The order is valued at approximately $120 million, including price escalations based on best faith assessment of assumptions, and is an option contained in a 2010 contract for a maximum of 860 trains signed with SNCF on behalf of the regions.